Catharine Bellinger

Guest Blogger

District of Columbia Director, Democrats for Education Reform

Washington, D.C.

Catharine serves as founding Director of the Washington, D.C., branch of Democrats for Education Reform. Prior to joining DFER, Catharine co-founded and led Students for Education Reform, a grassroots movement of college students fighting for educational justice in their communities. As co-founder of SFER, she was named a Draper Richards Kaplan Fellow, one of TIME Magazine’s “12 Education Leaders for 2012,” and one of the “Forbes 30 Under 30” in the education sector in 2013 and 2014. She has volunteered with KIPP DC: AIM Academy as a teaching assistant, and in 2008 she taught 9th grade algebra in Fort Worth, TX, with Breakthrough Collaborative.

Catharine graduated from high school in Washington, D.C., and attended Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs. Her commitment to pursuing a career in public service was shaped by her parents and grandparents, who have a long history of government and military service.